March 11

getting the things that are behind, and reaching forth to those that are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of my high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Fourthly—That we never go out of God's house as we go in. This was true of the Jews locally, it is morally true of us. As the departure of these worshippers was remote from the place of their entrance, so we withdraw from his ordinances further from heaven or hell than we entered in; less meet for the former, or more prepared for the latter. Ministers are a sweet savour of Christ, both in them that are saved, and in them that perish. To the one they are the savour of life unto life; but to the other they are the savour of death unto death.

Who believes this? Who trembles at the thought? Who earnestly, constantly prays, that our coming together "may be for the better and not for the worse?"

MARCH 11.—"The rich and the poor meet together."—Proverbs 22:2.

WHEN we think of the universe, we are immediately struck not only with the number of creatures in it, but the variety. If we enter heaven, instead of sameness we find "thrones and dominions, principalities and powers," angels and archangels. "There are also celestial bodies and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory." "All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds." What an amazing diversity is there in the human species! No two persons are so perfectly alike in voice, form, and feature, as to be undistinguishable by close and accurate comparison. And yet all these constitute one and the same kind of beings; and the accordances among them are far superior in number and importance to their inequalities. Solomon remarks this, and says, "The rich and the poor meet together."

He mentions, "the rich and the poor," not exclusively, for there are many other human distinctions; but specifically. He specifies these for two reasons. First, because "the rich and the poor" are the most common and general division of mankind. They are every where to be found; and comprehend many more than any other discrimination. Secondly, because they are also the most influential division. What is there the multitude dread so much as penury, or desire so much as affluence? How many are there who would rather be wicked than poor, or rich than pious! How much cleverer, and handsomer, and even younger, is a woman with a fortune than without one! How much more is a man listened to, whatever folly drivels from his lips, if he has a large income! How do the revolted tribes of Israel worship the golden calves! But "the rich and the poor meet together;" and if it be asked how? and where? we answer,

In their original. Hence Solomon adds, "the Lord is the maker of them all." We are the clay and he is the potter, and we are all

the work of his hands. When Job speaks of his man servant, he therefore asks, "Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?" We have not only "one father," as God is the sole creator, but as Adam is the only founder of our race. Some have talked of Preadamites: but the Apostle speaks of "the first man Adam:" and says, "God has made of one blood all the nations of men." This is not a mere truth but a useful one. It renders us all intimately related to each other. It is the cure of envy, pride, unkindness. Wherever I see a human being, I see a brother.

In their dependence upon God. In him all live, and move, and have their being. This is as true of the rich as of the poor. Yea, the more we possess, the more dependent are we.

In their mutual need of each other. If the poor need the wages of the rich, the rich need the service of the poor. The king is served by the labour of the field. "And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary."

In their fallen condition. They have turned every one to his own way; but all have gone astray. All have sinned. There is none righteous, no not one. All therefore are guilty before God: all are unfit for his kingdom without being made new creatures; and all are equally incapable of recovering themselves from their lapsed estate.

In the work of their salvation. There is only one name given under heaven among men whereby they must be saved. All are washed in the same fountain. All are healed by the same remedy. All are justified by the same blood. All are renewed by the same Spirit.

In the means and ordinances of divine grace. The rich and the poor meet together in reading the same Bible; in kneeling before the same Throne of Grace; in hearing the same servants of the most high God: in surrounding the same table of the Lord, and partaking of the same emblems of the body and blood of Christ. In the holy communion, the rich receive no better bread and wine than the poor; and as there is no preference in the sign, so there is none in the thing signified—"It is the common salvation."

In lightness to the same calamities of life. Family bereavements, bodily pains, eclipses of reason—how numerous the ills that flesh is heir to!—befall the high as well as the low. Yea, if there be any difference, there is on the side of the former, more exposure to assault and more acuteness in enduring.

In the sentence of mortality. In this war there is no discharge. Death is the way of all the earth. The grave is the house appointed for all living. "There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master." "All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again."

In the proceedings of the last day. None are so little as to be overlooked; none are so great as to be excused. I saw, says John, the dead, small and great, stand before God. We must all, says the